Apron for car dumpers



April 25, 1933. Q M. CARSE 1,905,367A

APRON FOR CAR DUMPERS Filed May 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1 nx @Il Lz lApril 25, 1933.

o. M. cARsE APRON FOR CAR DUMPERS Filed May 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,905,3ti7 i PATENT orifice .AFRO-NFOR CAR DUMPERS l Application led May 5,

This invention relates to car dumpers, and particularly to those havinga cradle which is adapted to be tilted forl emptying the content-s ofthe car. To obtain complete emptying of the car, it is usually necessaryto turn it about 160 degrees. In elevating car dumpers, the materialstarts to leave the car however, when the tilting operation hasprogressed about V45 degrees, and then moves l0 with considerablerapidity when the car is turned 90 degrees. The distance from the axisof the hinge pin to the inner axis of the cradle is such that when thecradle is at the highest point of travel, the material must drop threeor four feet before it strikes the apron. This results in considerablebreakage, which has heretofore been regarded as inevitable, particularlyas it has been necessary to place the apron considera-bly below thehighest .point of cradle movement, in order to provideI suliicientclearance for the cradle during the tilting cycle. Such breakage'isobjectionable however, as it decreases the value of the materialparticularly if it happens to be coal.

The principal object of the present invention therefore is to provide anapparatus by means of which the drop from the cradle to the apron may besubstantially eliminated. In addition, the present invention is directedtoward a device, which may be easily incorporated in the construction ofnew car dumpers, and readily attached as an auxiliary device to existingcar dumpers.

The preferred means for carrying out my invention is shown in thedrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a car dumpershowing the position of the cradle just before it reaches the highestpoint in the elevating movement; Fig. 2 is section taken on the line 2-2in Fig. l; Fig. V3 is a plan view of the auxiliary apron, which formspart of this invention; Fig. 4 is a section taken on an enlarged scaleon the line 4 4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view similarto that shown in Fig. 1 and illustrates in full lines the position ofthe cradle at the highest` point of the elevating movement, and shows inbroken lines, the relationship of the cradle to the auxil- 1930. serialNo. 449,738.

iary apron when the cradle has been turned substantially ninety degrees,and Fig. 6=is a similar view showing theposition of the parts'when thecradle has 'been turned about one hundred thirty five degrees. The cardumper, on which my invention is shown as the elevating type, wherein10A designates the usual frame, vand 1l the cradle, which is adapted to.be elevated along the frame in the customary way. The 60 cradle is shownas having a platen 12, which is movable transversely thereof, and ashaving Va car 13 in position upon the platen. Hinge pins 14 are shown onthe frame, while cooperating sockets are indicated at l5 on 65 thecradle. An apron which is normally used on present car dumpers is shownat' 16, while the customary pan is indicated `at 17. The upper edge ofthe apronterminates be-` low the axis ofthe hinge pin in order toprovide adequate clearance for the top edge- 18 of the cradle at theeXtreme forward end of the tilting movement. In such position, it isobvious from an inspection of Fig. 5,

' that there is a considerable drop before the 75 material strikes theapron. In practice, this amounts to three 'or four feet.

My invention enables material to slide gradually from the car to theapron, and the resultis accomplished by utilizing an apron 8o 20, whichmoves with the cradle during the tilting cycle. On new installations,the apron 2O can be used to the exclusion of the apron 16, but in oldinstallations, where it is desired to use my invention with the leastS5vr possible expense, it is preferable to leave the present apron inplace, and to permit the shiftable apron to move overthe present one.vThe shiftable apron comprises a fabricated structure, having body plates21, which are placed end to end, and fastened together as by rivetingoperation through angles 22. If desired however, the connections may bebolted together, so as to facilitate handling during transportation.'Additional angles 95 23 are shown, as being disposed at spacedintervals between the angles 22,'to reinforce the body plates. fearingplates 24 may then be riveted onto the body plates betweenV the angles.

`dred thirty five degrees.

The shiftable apron is normally adapted to be held above the pan and tobe engaged automatically by the cradle and moved with it during thetilting cycle. To this end, I have shown the apron 20, as having ashoulder 25, which may comprise an angle member that is fastened to theunderside of the apron, and that extends longitudinally thereof. Suchmember is adapted to engage a shoulder 2G on the frame or otherstationary part of the superstructure. ent car dumpers, such shouldersmay comprise an angle member, which is fastened to the upper end of theapron 16. y

To cause automatic engagement between the apron and the cradle, I haveshown a plurality Vof spaced hinge pins 30, which are mounted inbrackets 3l along the top of the cradle. Such pins are adapted to beengaged by hook shaped members 32, which are disposed along` theuppervedge `of the apron and are adapted to register with the pins asthe cradle moves upwardly. The position shown in Fig. l illustrates theposition of a pin 30 with reference to a member 232 when the sockets 15are approaching the hinge p ins. Continued upward movement of the cradlewill cause the pins 30 to slide along the apron until they reach theinnermost ends of the sockets and the associated members 32. 'lhe apronwill then be carried around with the cradle during the tilting cycle, asis shown by the broken lines 20a in Fig. 5, and by the full lines inFig. 6. In

vFig. 5, the position of the apron indicated at 20a is that which willbe assumed by it when the cradle is turned ninety degrees. That shown inFig. 6 illustrates the position of the apron when the cradle is turnedone hun- To prevent the apron from falling, I have shown a cable 40, oneend of which is anchored at 4l to the apron 20, and the other end at 42to the apron 16. Y Y

Vhen the cradle reaches the end of the return movement of the tiltingcycle and starts downwardly, guided by the frame, the shoulder 25engages the stop 26. This holds the apron in the position shown in Fig.l and permits the pins 30 to be automatically disengaged from the hooks32. Thus, the cradle may be lowered to the level of the approach andrun-off tracks, while'the apron remains in position for engagement uponthe next elevation of the cradle.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the use of ashiftable apron.

maintains a substantially continuous surface along which, the coal canslide `from the car to the pan.V Furthermore, the top of the apron isalways in relatively close position to the upper edge of the cradle atall times during the tilting cycle. In addition, the apron isautomatically engaged and dis- On presengaged on the upward and downwardmovements respectively of the cradle.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a car dumper, the combination with a frame, of a cradle adapted tobe` elevated and tilted therein, a hinge member mounted upon the cradle,a material conveying apron disposed within the frame and overhanging thepath of travel of the cradle, and means on the apron adapted to beengaged and raised by the hinged mem'ber and held in cooperative contacttherewith during the tilting movement of the cradle.

2. In a car dump'er, the combination with a frame, of a cradle adaptedto be elevated and tilted therein, a stop member mounted upon the frame,a hinge member mounted upon the cradle, a material conveying aprondisposed within the frame and carrying a second stop member and a secondhinge member, said apron being supported during the tilting cycle on thecradle by cooperation of the two hinge members and supported at othertimes on the frame by cooperation of the two stop members.

3. In a car dumper, the combination with a cradle adapted for bothvertical and tilting movement, of an apron having a downwardly facingshoulder adjacent the upper end thereof, mea-ns on the cradle forautomatically engaging the shoulder Vat the start of the tilting cycle,and for holding the apron in pivotal relationship to the cradle duringthe tilting cycle, said apron being disconnected from the cradle by thedownward vertical movement of the cradle away from said shoulder at theend of the tilting cycle.

' In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

ORLANDO M. CARSE.

